I'm back again!!!!! Since posting my Ford 2.9v6 throttle body idea I have decided that it is not ideal for what I want due to the spacing and the fact that the throttles taper back up to 53mm after the 45mm butterflies.

However, I now have (and this is gleaned from somebody elses project (www.valvers.com) a new plan. I have just bought some Honda CBR 1100XX (Blackbird) throttle bodies, including injectors, throttle pot etc etc for £75 + vat. These have a 42mm bore, and almost the correct spacing to go on a vauxhall XE 16v. A much cheaper alternative to the £400 jenvey bodies. I have partially adpated my standard vauxhall inlet manifold, just need to weld some adaptors on to mount the bodies.. Cheaper injection here we come....................................(hopefully...............................)

NS dev,
Sounds interesting, I have a faint recolection of seeing bike throttle bodies on a seven?

As a matter of interest what ECU are you going to use?

I am going to end up using an MBE ecu, as that's what I already have on my grasser so the two cars can share (not at the same time obviously!!), or also a mate has a used MBE system which he no longer uses so I could get that. On the other hand, if I were starting from scratch I would use either DTA or Emerald, as these offer better support in my opinion and freer access to software and advice.

I second that with Emerald. Software very good and easy to operate. Company backup also very good, recently emailed them about something and they called me back within a couple of hours with the info I needed.

I've had the same experience with Emerald.
Got back to me very quickly and Dave Walker is a gold mine of knowledge.
Could we have some sort of list of suppliers with locost members ratings?

I agree on the emerald opinion, Im in the process of doing an engine conversion and when i eventually upgrade the ecu thats what it will be. Dave even advised me on ways to get around having to buy the ecu for the time being so as to get the engine up and running to begin with, "top bloke"

Anybody tried/planning to try the Megasquirt system?

NSDev, you got any pictures of your new TBs?

Thanks,

James

[Edited on 22/4/04 by James]

James,

take a look here:
http://www.valvers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=157&sid=7d38a68a0ee66ea60beb52bc83bc03b6

Ned.

I originally had my Vauxhall engine at Emerald with Dave Walker in 1996 when I wanted to use the M3D system. He used it to suss out the crank trigger etc but then due to work etc getting in the way the project ended up falling back a bit and I had to go for the MBE system to get the car on the road (it was my only road car then!!). But given the choice I would now go back to emerald quick as a shot!

As you say, Dave Walker is a great, non-bullsh1tting bloke who calls a spanner a spanner and is not worried about not necessarily doing things the conventional way, not something that can be said for all motorsport engineers!!!!

Thanks Ned! Look like a nice setup!

NS, Glad to hear it's coming on- pity the 2.9s weren't a goer- was a true Chairman Ron solution!

Cheers,

James

Yes, it was a nice freeby possbility but then once I had factored in the extra ally welding (more needed to use the granada bodies) the bike bodies are not a bad option, look and go pretty nice for £75!!

Presumably you'll still have to weld up a manifold to get the angles to go from the TB tubes to the inlet ports won't you? Or have you lucked in...

... ok, just read you first post again and realised you *have* lucked in! Blackbird TBs and XE inlet ports are the same spacing are they!!!
How the hell did that happen?!

Nice one anyway!

James

the centres between the pairs of bodies are slightly different, but as the separate anyway it can just be shimmed out, the centres on each "body pair" line up ok!!

Quite convenient!